Cable reel



. 3, 1942. L... YOST CABLE REEL Filedlarch 24, 1941 LZogdYost INVENTOR.BY 0 7 g ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 3, 1942 a can: am

Lloyd Yost, Los Angeies, Calif., assignor to A. 0.

Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Win, a corporation of New York ApplicationMarch 24, 1941, Serial No. 384,886

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a cable reel.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved reel for electriccable used to convey electrical energy from near the reel to equipmentat the far end of the cable unwound from it.

Another object of the invention is .to provide animproved reel of thischaracter with a locking device to prevent unauthorized rotation of thereel and removal or insertion of the connector to the cable.

Another object of the inventionis toprovide a reel which can be rotatedonly when the connector to the cable on the reel is removed.

A further object is to provide a reel such that the connector to thecable can be inserted only when the reel is locked against rotation.

These and other objects of the invention will be clear from thefollowing detailed description and the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the reel, partly in section;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking from right to left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the near end on the line 3-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. {is an enlarged section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the cableconnector in place;

Fig. 5 is a similar section but with the latch in a diflerent position;and v Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary end views showing the locking arm inopen and closed positions respectively.

Referring to the drawing, channel sections 1 are welded to tubular crossmem ers I to form a base for the attachment of tubular supports 3. Thesecarry the axle 4 which may be a section of pipe welded to supports 3.

The reel comprises a hub- 5 which may be a section of pipe of thecorrect internal diameter 7 to fit closely around the axle, spokes lwelded to the hub and to rims l. and a drum 0 welded to the spokes. Thereel is positioned longitudinally on the axle by hub stops 9 welded tothe axle. A circular guard plate ll of somewhat greater diameter thanthe drum I is welded to the axle at one end. Lifting plates II withholes I! for the insertion of hooks are desirably provided at the endsof the axle to facilitate the lifting of the reel by a crane or hoist.It is to be understood that the reel and other parts are assembled onthe axle before this is welded to supports 3.

A tubular cable guide I3 is welded to the inside f L116 drum to guidethe inner end of cable .14

smoothly from the outer surface of the drum to 55 pin II.

an electrical outlet I! which is mounted in-a short tube ll welded tothe drum. Connection to an external electrical circuit is made by cablei'l terminating at plug "which can be inserted into outlet II for thetransmission of power, or

withdrawn therefrom to permit the cable to be reeled upon or unreeledfrom the drum.

A plate it is welded to two of the spokes B to carry a locking pin 20which projects outwardly from the reel towards plate 7 ill. The purposeof the locking pin 20 is to engage arcuate locking flanges 2i welded tothat face of the locking arm 22 which is turned towards the pin, andprevent rotation of the drum. The locking arm has a notch 23 at one sidewhich is slightly larger than the body of plug l8, but smaller than theshoulder 24 on the plug.

Directly below the axle there is a hand hole 25 through guard plate ill.The hole is of sumcient size to permit the passage of shoulder 24 onplug l8, and is at such a distance from the axle that the electricaloutlet l5 registers with it. Since the guard plate III is of largerdiameter than the drum i, it will be seen that the plug l8 can beinserted into outlet l5 only when this registers with hole 25.

The locking arm 22 is pivotally mounted on pin 26, welded to plate Ill,so as to be free to swing in its own plane between positions defined byaxle l and stop 21 welded to plate Hi. When the locking arm has itslowermost position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, it covers hole 25 andprevents insertion of the plug 18. The arcuate locking flanges ii arenot in the circular path of locking.

pin II, so that there is no restraint on rotation of the reel and cablecan be unreeled from or reeled onto the drum.

When a sufficient length of cable has been unrolled and it is desired tomake electrical connection to the cable, the reel is turned to bring theelectrical outlet l5 directlv opposite hole 25. To permit insertion ofplug it. locking arm 22 must be swung to the left to uncover the hole 25in plate III as shown in Fig. 6. When swung suiilciently to the'left oragainst the shaft 4 to permit insertion of the plug, the locking flangesII on arm 22 engage pin 20 fastened to the reel and prevent its rotationin either direction. After the electrical connection has been made, armI! is returned slightly to the right and. locked in place by a padlock2! through holes 2! and II, the first in arm 22 and the second in plateII. The locking flanges 2| are of suiiicient length to keep thesmallreturn movement from releasing So long as the arm is locked in thisposition, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the reel is locked againstrotation in either direction, and, in addition, the shoulder 24 on plugit being larger than notch 23 in the locking arm 22, it is impossible towithdraw the plug and break the electrical connection.

When the padlock is removed, the lower end of latch 22 can be moved onlyto the left, movement to the righ. being prevented by plug it.

Movement to the left about pin 26 merely changes the position of lockingflanges 2! relative to pin 20 but does not release the pin and permitrotation of the reel. It does, however, remove the notch from aroundplug I8 and allows the plug to be withdrawn, after which the latch isdropped downward and to the right against stop 21, into the positionshown in Fig. '7, to free the pin 20 from flanges 2i and permit rotationof the reel. The plate 22 in this position covers outlet l5 and may belocked to prevent unauthorized electrical connection with the cable.

Various embodiments of. the invention may be employed within the scopeof the accompanying claims.

I claim: 7

1. A reel for electric cable comprising a rotatable drum on which thecable is wound, an electric connector adjacent one end connected tocable on the drum and adapted to receive a matching connector on a cableexterior to the drum, a fixed guard plate disposed transverse to theaxisof the drum at the end adjacent the connector and of sufllcient sizeto cover the circular path traversed by the connector on the drum whenthis is rotated, an opening through the guard plate registering with theconnector on the drum in one of its angular positions to provide for theinsertion of a connector on a cable external to the reel, a locking pinrigidly secured to the drum on which the cable is wound at the endadjacent the guard plate, a locking arm'pivotally mounted on the guardplate arranged to cover the opening in the guard plate and preventinsertion of the external connector when the locking arm is in aposition to provide for free rotation of the drum, locking cams mountedon the locking arm to engage the locking pin on the drum and preventrotation of the drum when the locking arm is swung to a position inwhich it clears the opening in the guard plate to prov-ide for insertionof the external connector,

is in a position to cover the opening in the guard plate and to engagethe locking pin and prevent rotation of the drum when the locking arm isin a position to uncover the opening in the guard plate and expose theconnector to the cable on the drum so that electrical connection can bemade to it.

3. In a reel for electric cable having a rotatable drum on which thecable is wound, a connector on the cable wound on the drum, a guardplate with an opening to prevent the making of an external electricalconnection to the con 1 nector on the drum except when the connector isin registry with the opening in the guard plate, a stop on the drum, alocking arm pivotaily mounted on the guard plate, and means on thelocking arm disposed to free the stop on the drum and permit rotation ofthe drum when the locking arm is in a position to cover the opening inthe guard plate and to engage the stop and to prevent rotation of thedrum when the locking arm is in a position to uncover the opening in theguard plate and expose the connector on I a guard plate with an openingto prevent the making of a connection except when the connector on thedrum is in registry with the opening in the guard plate, a. stop on thedrum, 8. locking arm pivotally mounted on the guard plate, means on thelocking arm disposed to free the stop on the drum and permit rotation ofthe drum when the locking arm is in a position to cover the opening inthe guard plate and to en-' gage the stop and prevent rotation of thedrum when the locking arm is in a position to uncover the opening in theguard plate and expose the connector on the drum so that the secondconnector can be engaged with it.

5. In combination, a rotary drum for receiving an electric cable to bewound thereon, means on means to lock thelocking arm in a position inwhich the cams engage the locking pin and hold the drum againstrotation, and means to prevent insertion or removal ofthe externalconnector when the locking arm is locked.

2. In a reel for electric cable having a rotatable drum on which thecable is wound, a connector on the cable wound on the drum, a guard freerotation of the drum when the'locking arm the drum for connecting theinner end of the cable to a plug on a second electrical cable, and meansincluding a stationary member having an opening for receiving said plugand a movable locking member for simultaneously locking the drum againstrotation and the plug against removal through said opening.

' 6. In combination, a rotary drum for receiv- LLOYD YOST.

